DJI Mavic 4 Pro vs SwellPro SplashDrone 4+
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The Mavic 4 Pro at $2,199 and the SplashDrone 4+ at $2,777. The two most expensive consumer drones on the market, designed for completely different environments.
The Mavic 4 Pro has a 4/3-inch Hasselblad sensor, triple camera system, variable aperture, and every smart flight feature DJI offers.
The SplashDrone 4+ is IP67 waterproof, launches and lands on water, and is built to operate in marine conditions that would destroy the Mavic 4 Pro instantly.
At similar premium price points, they represent the pinnacle of two different drone philosophies.
Pros & Cons
DJI Mavic 4 Pro
- Triple camera with a 4/3 Hasselblad main (100MP), 70mm medium telephoto, and 168mm telephoto gives three focal lengths without repositioning. Switch from wide property overviews to architectural details mid-flight
- Infinity Gimbal rotates 360 degrees continuously, enabling true native vertical video for social media, 70-degree upward tilts for building facades, and rotating shots no other consumer drone can produce
- 6K/60fps video with 10-bit D-Log across all three cameras gives editors consistent color science. The Mavic 3 Pro only offered D-Log on its main camera, forcing mismatched grades between lenses
- f/2.0 to f/11 variable aperture on the main camera controls depth of field and handles bright midday sun without ND filters. That's wider than the Mavic 3 Pro's f/2.8 minimum
- 51-minute flight time translates to 40-45 minutes in real conditions, enough to photograph an entire property exterior on one battery
- LiDAR omnidirectional obstacle avoidance works down to 0.1 lux, making twilight exterior shoots and return-to-home flights safe after sunset
- O4+ transmission holds a stable 10-bit HDR 1080p feed at 30 km. The live view quality is good enough to evaluate framing and exposure on the controller screen
- 100MP stills from the 4/3 sensor resolve enough detail for large-format prints and billboard-scale real estate advertising
- 1,063g exceeds both the 250g and 1kg thresholds, triggering stricter FAA regulations and heavier drone categories in the EU
- $2,199 for the base kit and $3,549 for the Creator Combo puts it beyond what most real estate agents will spend on a drone
- Not sold in the US officially by DJI due to FCC Covered List restrictions. Buying through B&H or third-party Amazon sellers means uncertain warranty and DJI Care Refresh access
- 28mm main camera is narrower than the Mavic 3 Pro's 24mm, and some property photographers miss the wider field of view for capturing full building facades up close
- ActiveTrack performance is weaker than expected. Several owners describe it as unreliable for consistent subject tracking, especially with vehicles
- No ProRes codec, which professional videographers expected at this price point
- Normal color profile ships with excessive contrast that requires significant correction in post. Owners who don't shoot D-Log get harsh-looking default footage
SwellPro SplashDrone 4+
- IP67 waterproof and seawater-proof: can launch from water, land on water, and fly through rain without any housing or accessories
- 48MP Sony sensor with 3-axis gimbal produces usable 4K/60fps footage for marine content, fishing footage, and search-and-rescue documentation
- Floats upright on the water surface and can take off directly from waves, which no DJI drone can do
- 7km range with a touchscreen controller gives real working distance for offshore fishing and marine surveys
- Triple-satellite GPS (GPS + Galileo + BeiDou) holds position in coastal winds where single-GPS drones drift
- 2kg payload capacity supports bait release, underwater sonar modules, and life-saving equipment delivery
- 18 m/s wind resistance (35 knots), well above what any consumer DJI drone tolerates
- Modular camera system lets you swap between the G03H filming camera, night-vision GC2-S, or fixed-angle FAC depending on the mission
- $2,777 for the standard combo costs more than a DJI Mavic 4 Pro and produces significantly worse image quality
- 1/2-inch sensor struggles in low light, and the 48MP count comes from pixel binning, not a large sensor
- No obstacle avoidance of any kind means you need visual line of sight and careful piloting around boats, bridges, and cliffs
- 2.43 kg takeoff weight makes it heavy and bulky with no folding design, requiring a dedicated case for transport
- Customer service has a poor reputation: Trustpilot shows 2.8/5 with reports of warranty denials, slow email support, and missing components
- No follow-me tracking mode, so you cannot use it as an autonomous filming drone for water sports
- Unreliable app and firmware update process compared to DJI Fly or Autel Sky
- $150+ batteries and flight time drops significantly with payload attached from the 30-minute rating
Price Range
The Mavic 4 Pro costs $2,199 for the standard kit. The SplashDrone 4+ costs $2,777. Both are premium purchases by consumer drone standards.
The Mavic 4 Pro is available through B&H Photo and Amazon but not through DJI's official US store due to FCC Covered List restrictions.
The SplashDrone 4+ is available through SwellPro's direct store and select retailers. The $578 price difference is modest given that these are fundamentally different tools.
You're not choosing between them so much as choosing which environment your drone needs to survive.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
4.7 | 3.3 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 6K/60fps | 4K/60fps |
| Sensor Size | 4/3 CMOS (main) + 1/1.3-inch (med tele) + 1/1.5-inch (tele) | 1/2-inch CMOS (Sony) |
| Aperture | f/2.0-f/11 (main), f/2.8 (teles) | f/2.2 |
| Zoom | 6x optical (28mm + 70mm + 168mm triple lens) | 7x digital |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 51 min | 30 min |
| Range | 30 km | 7 km |
| Max Speed | 25 m/s | 10 m/s |
| Gimbal | 3-axis Infinity Gimbal (360° rotation) | 3-axis mechanical + EIS |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $2199 | $2777 |
| Weight | 1063g | 2430g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Camera System
The camera gap is enormous. 0-f/11. Triple camera at 28mm, 70mm, and 168mm with a 360-degree Infinity Gimbal.
The SplashDrone 4+ has a 4K camera on a stabilized gimbal, functional but not competitive with the Hasselblad system.
Build and Water Resistance
The environmental resilience gap is equally enormous in the other direction.
- The Mavic 4 Pro weighs 1,063g and folds for transport. Zero water resistance
- The SplashDrone 4+ weighs 2,430g and requires a dedicated carrying case. IP67 waterproof
- The SplashDrone floats, launches from water, lands on water, and flies in heavy rain
- Any water contact is likely fatal for the Mavic 4 Pro
Flight Performance
- Battery: 51 minutes (Mavic 4 Pro) versus 30 minutes (SplashDrone 4+)
- The Mavic 4 Pro has LiDAR omnidirectional obstacle avoidance
- The SplashDrone 4+ has no obstacle avoidance and limited smart flight modes
Choose the Mavic 4 Pro if:
- You need the best possible aerial footage in dry conditions
- You shoot real estate, landscapes, or commercial video production
- Image quality is the primary deliverable for your work
- You want variable aperture and triple camera for creative control
The Hasselblad sensor and triple camera system produce footage that no other consumer drone matches. Keep it away from water, rain, and salt air.
Choose the SplashDrone 4+ if:
- Your work happens on or near water
- You need a drone for commercial fishing, marine research, or offshore inspections
- Surf photography or search-and-rescue operations are part of your workflow
- You operate in rainstorms, salt spray, or conditions that would destroy other drones
The camera captures adequate documentation footage. The real value is that it operates where no other drone can: on the ocean surface, in rainstorms, and through salt spray.
Our Verdict
The Mavic 4 Pro at $2,199 for the best aerial footage in dry conditions. The Hasselblad sensor produces commercial-grade images that justify professional rates. The SplashDrone 4+ at $2,777 for marine and all-weather operations. The only consumer drone that survives the ocean. These are not competing products. They're specialized tools for different environments. Some professionals own both.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro
4.7/5 overall · $2199
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-15